Cumulative visits for care of minor injuries are associated with traumatic brain injury in young children

AIM

To evaluate the association between cumulative visits for care of minor injuries and risk of traumatic brain injuries in children aged ≤36 months.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of children born from 2009 to 2012, using a health insurance claims database in Japan. We investigated the total number of visits where children aged 0-36 months presented for treatment of minor injuries such as superficial injuries, fractures, burns and foreign body ingestions. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the cumulative number of visits for treatment of minor injuries and traumatic brain injuries in children aged ≤36 months.

RESULTS

A total of 91 011 children were included in the analysis, 51% of whom were boys. Traumatic brain injuries were identified in 0.7% of these children. Cumulative visits for care of minor injuries among children aged 0-36 months were significantly associated with traumatic brain injuries by 36 months of age, with an odds ratio of 2.12 (95% confidence interval: 1.68-2.68) for multiple visits.

CONCLUSION

Cumulative visits for treatment of minor injuries during the first 36 months of life were associated with increased risk of traumatic brain injuries by 36 months of age.

Ophthalmic Corticosteroids in Pregnant Women with Allergic Conjunctivitis and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes: Propensity Score Analyses

PURPOSE

The risks of topical ophthalmic corticosteroids during pregnancy remain unclear. This study investigated the association between exposure to topical ophthalmic corticosteroids during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective, cohort, database study.

METHODS

Pregnant women with allergic conjunctivitis in the JMDC claims database (JMDC, Tokyo, Japan) between 2005 and 2018 were included. Adverse neonatal outcomes (congenital anomalies [CA], preterm birth [PB], low birthweight [LB], and the composite of these 3 outcomes) were compared between mothers who did and did not receive topical ophthalmic corticosteroids during the first trimester. Controls were women who were not prescribed topical ophthalmic corticosteroids during the first trimester. First, propensity scores were calculated with known confounders, including disorders during pregnancy, other chronic comorbidities, and use of antihistamines. Logistic regression was then conducted with propensity score adjustment.

RESULTS

A total of 6,847 eligible women were identified of whom 898 (13%) had received topical ophthalmic corticosteroids. CA occurred in 5.5% and 4.9%, respectively; PB in 3.4% and 3.9%, respectively; LB in 5.9% and 7.0%, respectively; and the composite outcome in 11.7% and 11.7% of unexposed and exposed mothers, respectively. Corticosteroid eye drops were not significantly associated with an increase in CA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-1.14; P = .20); PB (aOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.80-1.88; P = .35); LB (aOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.84-1.61; P = .35), or composite outcome (aOR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.73-1.22; P = .68).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of topical ophthalmic corticosteroids in pregnant women with allergic conjunctivitis was not associated with any increase in CA, PB, or LB.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis in Japan - Analysis of a Nationwide Inpatient Database

Background: Nationwide data on transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in Japan are scarce. Methods and Results: Using a nationwide inpatient database, we analyzed patients undergoing TAVI (n=8,338) or SAVR (n=16,298) due to aortic stenosis between 2014 and 2017. The annual number of TAVI increased rapidly from 2014 to 2017, particularly in older patients. In-hospital deaths were lower and the length of hospital stay was shorter for patients undergoing TAVI than SAVR. Conclusions: TAVI has been penetrating in Japan as an alternative therapeutic option for aortic stenosis and is associated with acceptable clinical outcomes.

High-dose versus low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin for treatment of children with Kawasaki disease weighing 25 kg or more

Little is known whether 2-g/kg IVIG is necessary for older children with Kawasaki disease (KD), because they could have more complications and financial burden. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes between high- and low-dose IVIG in KD children with higher body weight (25 kg or more), using a national inpatient database in Japan from 2010 to 2017. We identified those receiving 2-g/kg and 1-g/kg IVIG as an initial treatment. Outcomes included the proportions of coronary artery abnormality (CAA) formation, IVIG resistance, adverse effects, length of stay, and medical costs. A propensity score matching analysis was conducted to compare the outcomes between the groups. We identified 1332 patients with KD and created 4:1 propensity score-matched pairs between high- and low-dose IVIG groups. There were no significant differences in the proportions of CAA (5.3% vs. 4.1%; p = 0.587), IVIG resistance, and length of stay. Medical costs were significantly higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: No significant difference was shown between the high- and low-dose IVIG groups in the proportions of outcomes, while medical costs were higher in the high-dose group. Further studies are needed to ascertain the appropriate IVIG dose in older patients with KD. What is Known: • For treatments of Kawasaki disease at any age in the acute phase, 2-g/kg single-dose intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin have been the most recommended to reduce fever early and prevent complications of coronary artery abnormalities. What is New: • There was no significant difference in outcomes between children with Kawasaki disease weighing ≥ 25 kg treated with high-dose or low-dose IVIG in terms of coronary artery abnormalities, IVIG resistance, adverse effects, and length of stay, except for medical costs.

Risk of Cancer in Association with Ranitidine and Nizatidine vs Other H2 Blockers: Analysis of the Japan Medical Data Center Claims Database 2005-2018

INTRODUCTION

In September 2019, ranitidine and nizatidine were suggested to contain N-nitrosodimethylamine, a carcinogenic substance. People have since been concerned about the potential impact of ranitidine/nizatidine use on the risk of cancer.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the risk of cancer among people receiving ranitidine or nizatidine compared with other histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) [cimetidine, famotidine, roxatidine, and lafutidine].

METHODS

In the Japan Medical Data Center claims database (comprising people aged < 75 years) from 2005 to 2018, we identified new adult users of H2 blockers and classified them into ranitidine/nizatidine users and other H2 blocker users. We estimated the incidence of cancer diagnosis in each group and conducted a multivariable Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 113,745 new users of ranitidine/nizatidine (median age 41.2 years [interquartile range 31.7-51.1]; 49.1% men; median follow-up 2.4 years [1.1-4.5]) and 503,982 new users of other H2 blockers (median age 40.9 years [31.1-51.2]; 51.0% men; median follow-up 2.3 years [0.9-4.2]). The incidence rate of cancer diagnosis was 6.39 (95% confidence interval 6.13-6.66) cases per 1000 person-years (top three sites: breast 14.8%; colorectal 14.6%; and stomach 11.5%) in the ranitidine/nizatidine group and 6.17 (6.05-6.30) cases per 1000 person-years (colorectal 14.7%; breast 13.5%; and stomach 11.2%) in the other H2 blockers group. The adjusted hazard ratio (ranitidine/nizatidine users vs other H2 blocker users) was 1.02 (0.98-1.07). The results were similar by follow-up length, by cancer site, and when ranitidine and nizatidine users were separately compared with the other H2 blockers group. By cumulative dose, the adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.03 (0.98-1.08) from 1 to 180 defined daily doses (DDDs), 1.00 (0.73-1.39) from 181 to 365 DDDs, 0.95 (0.61-1.48) from 366 to 730 DDDs, and 0.83 (0.45-1.55) at > 730 DDDs.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no evidence that ranitidine/nizatidine is associated with an increased risk of cancer, although further studies with more accurate measurement of exposure, inclusion of older people, and longer follow-up may be needed.

Current trends and outcomes of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Japan: A nationwide observational study

Aim

The present study aimed to describe the prevalence, prognosis and annual trends of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients, using a nationwide inpatient database in Japan.

Methods

This was a nationwide retrospective cohort study, using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database. We included OHCA patients registered in the database from July 2010 to March 2017 and analyzed the annual prevalence of OHCA patients who received ECPR. The outcomes included survival to hospital discharge and survival with favorable neurologic outcome at hospital discharge. The annual trends on the outcomes were also analyzed.

Results

We identified 217,907 eligible patients. OHCA patients were divided into patients with ECPR (n = 5,612) and conventional CPR (n = 212,295). The prevalence of ECPR performed in OHCA patients was 2.6%. ECPR prevalence significantly increased from 2.1% in 2010 to 3.0% in 2016 (P < 0.001). Overall survival to hospital discharge was 16.4% and 2.7% in patients with ECPR and conventional CPR, respectively. Prevalence of patients who were discharged from hospital with favorable neurologic outcome was 12.4% and 1.6% in those with ECPR and conventional CPR, respectively.

Increasing age was associated with progressively deteriorating outcomes. The trend of survival to hospital discharge significantly increased on an annual basis.

Conclusions

The annual prevalence of ECPR significantly increased from 2010 to 2016. Improvements in overall survival to hospital discharge were noted for ECPR in OHCA patients and there was a trend in the tendency for ECPR patients discharged from the hospital to have favorable neurologic outcomes.

Outpatient Prescriptions of Kampo Formulations in Japan

Objective Kampo is a traditional Japanese medicine using formulae of natural agents. Although Kampo is widely practiced, information regarding the current prescriptions of Kampo formulations is lacking. The aim of the study was to describe the outpatient use of Kampo formulations in the current Japanese health insurance system. Methods From the JMDC Claims Database, we identified subscribers with outpatient prescriptions of Kampo extract formulations between April 2017 and March 2018. Prescription records were summarized at the individual level to describe the pattern of each formula's use, such as the frequency of prescription and the number of days within a year that were covered by the prescriptions. We also examined whether or not Kampo formulations were prescribed in combination with other drugs. Results Of the 4.5 million subscribers, 13.5% received prescriptions of Kampo extracts within 1 year, and 54% of Kampo users were women. The most commonly prescribed Kampo formulae included kakkonto, shoseiryuto, and maoto, which were used for the short term covering a median of 5 to 7 days. There were also several formulae that were prescribed for longer periods. The median numbers of days covered by kamishoyosan and keishibukuryogan were 60 and 56, respectively. Kampo formulations were used in combination with Western drugs in 85% of prescriptions. Conclusion Kampo formulations are commonly prescribed under the Japanese insurance system and are frequently used in combination with Western drugs. The pattern of prescriptions varied across different formulae.

Serial Changes in Clinical Presentations and Outcomes of 5,740 Patients Requiring Repeated Hospital Admissions (Four or More Times) due to Worsened Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of death and hospitalization worldwide. In particular, hospital readmission due to worsened HF occurs frequently after the onset of HF. However, the association of repeated hospital admission with clinical manifestations and outcomes is unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the serial changes in presentation and clinical course of patients requiring repeated hospital admission due to worsened HF. Among 466,921 patients who were admitted and discharged between January 2010 and March 2018, with the main discharge diagnosis of HF, we studied 5,740 patients who were hospitalized 4 times or more, using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. We evaluated serial changes in continuous data using the Jonckheere trend test, and categorical data using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. The median age of the patients was 78 years, and 3,326 patients (58%) were male. Body mass index and Barthel Index decreased with increased numbers of admissions. Patients requiring respiratory support and hemodialysis increased, whereas patients undergoing intra-aortic balloon pumping decreased with increased numbers of admissions. The length of hospital stay was prolonged and the interval between hospitalizations was shortened with increased numbers of hospital admissions. The in-hospital mortality rate was 8.8% at the fourth admission. In conclusion, this is the first large-scale real-world study on the serial changes in characteristics and outcomes of HF patients requiring repeated hospitalization, suggesting that repeated hospitalization might adversely affect the general status of patients with HF and result in a vicious clinical cycle.

Restfulness from sleep and subsequent cardiovascular disease in the general population

We aimed to clarify the association between restfulness from sleep and subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Medical records of 1,980,476 individuals with neither prior history of CVD nor sleep disorders were extracted from the Japan Medical Data Center. Restfulness from sleep was subjectively assessed using information from the questionnaires at initial health check-ups. The mean age was 45 ± 11 years and 1,184,937 individuals were men. Overall, 1,197,720 individuals (60.5%) reported having good restfulness from sleep. The mean follow-up period was 1122 ± 827 days. Myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation occurred in 3673 (0.2%), 30,241 (1.5%), 13,546 (0.7%), 28,296 (1.4%), and 8116 (0.4%) individuals, respectively. Multivariable Cox regression analyses including age, sex, and other CVD risk factors after multiple imputation for missing values showed that good restfulness from sleep was associated with lower incidence of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83-0.95), angina pectoris (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.83-0.87), stroke (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.82-0.88), heart failure (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.84-0.88), and atrial fibrillation (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.97). The association of restfulness from sleep with CVD events was pronounced in subjects with younger age and female sex. In conclusion, good restfulness from sleep may be associated with the lower risk of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Further studies are required to clarify the underlying mechanism and to develop a novel preventive approach for CVD from the perspective of sleep.

Association between parenteral nutrition in the early phase and outcomes in patients with abdominal trauma undergoing emergency laparotomy: A retrospective nationwide study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Parenteral nutrition in the early phase is often performed for patients with trauma who have undergone laparotomy. However, the clinical benefits of parenteral nutrition in the early phase in this population remain unknown. We investigated the association of parenteral nutrition in the early phase with outcomes in patients with trauma who underwent emergency laparotomy.

METHODS

Using a Japanese nationwide database from July 2010 to March 2018, we identified patients with trauma who underwent emergency laparotomy on admission to the hospital, required mechanical ventilation on admission, and did not receive enteral nutrition within 2 days after admission. We performed an overlap weights analysis to compare in-hospital outcomes between patients with and without parenteral nutrition in the early phase. The primary outcome was the duration of mechanical ventilation. The secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stay, total hospitalization cost, tracheostomy, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and all-cause 28-day in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

In total, 1700 adult patients were included. There were no significant associations between parenteral nutrition in the early phase and the duration of mechanical ventilation (difference, -0.4 days; 95% confidence interval, -2.9 to 2.2), length of hospital stay (difference, 1.3 days; 95% confidence interval, -5.0 to 7.5), total hospitalization cost (difference, US$ 730; 95% confidence interval, -2911 to 4370), tracheostomy (risk difference, 0.01; 95% confidence interval, -0.03 to 0.05), hospital-acquired pneumonia (risk difference, -0.01; 95% confidence interval, -0.05 to 0.03), or all-cause 28-day in-hospital mortality (risk difference, 0.02; 95% confidence interval, -0.01 to 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

Parenteral nutrition in the early phase for patients with trauma undergoing emergency laparotomy was not associated with better in-hospital outcomes.

Association between surgical treatment and in-hospital mortality in patients with infective endocarditis stratified by NYHA classification: a nationwide retrospective study in Japan

Background

Heart failure (HF) is one of the major complications of infective endocarditis (IE). The ESC guideline described that surgical treatment should be performed for the patients with IE complicated with HF. However, decision making of surgical indication in real-world clinical setting is not easy for patients with IE concomitant with HF due to complicated conditions, and the clinical benefit of surgical intervention for IE and HF is unclear.

Purpose

We sought to uncover the association between surgical treatment and in-hospital mortality among the patients admitted for community-acquired IE respectively according to the severity of HF symptoms (NYHA class I to IV).

Methods

We studied 3,403 patients diagnosed as IE (mean age 65.9 years, 61.6% males) with records of baseline NYHA classification (I to IV) who survived for more than 2 days, using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, a nationwide inpatient database in Japan. Patients were classified into four groups: 919 patients (27.0%) in NYHA I, 1,007 patients (29.6%) in NYHA II, 767 patients (22.5%) in NYHA III, and 710 patients (20.9%) in NYHA IV. A multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender, Barthel Index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and usage of inotropic therapy at admission was performed to evaluate the association between the surgical treatment and in-hospital mortality.

Results

Patients with higher NYHA classification were significantly older and were more likely to be female than those with lower NYHA classification. At admission, patients with higher NYHA classification had lower baseline activities and higher comorbidities, and also had more complications including stroke, shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation than those with lower NYHA classification. In-hospital mortality was seen in 406 patients (11.9%) in the entire cohort. The mortality rate significantly increased with the NYHA class (NYHA I, 3.6%; NYHA II, 8.4%; NYHA III, 11.9%; NYHA IV, 27.9%: p&lt;0.001). According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis, surgical treatment was independently associated with lower in-hospital mortality (Odds ratio 0.395, 95% Confidence Interval 0.297–0.526; p&lt;0.001). A fragmentated analysis in each NYHA classification showed that the survival benefit of surgical intervention was pronounced in patients with higher NYHA class (Figure). The limitation of our study was including the potential unmeasured confounders, which lead to overestimate the relationship between the surgical treatment and in-hospital mortality even after excluding the critically ill patients who died within 2 days and adjusting for the measured confounders.

Conclusion

Surgical treatment was associated with lower in-hospital mortality among the patients with IE complicated with HF, particularly among those with more advanced HF status. Our study implies that surgical treatment might be beneficial for the patients with advanced HF.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Geographic variation in the outcome of patients hospitalized for heart failure: analysis of a nationwide inpatient database

Background

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing in developed countries. Considering the significant socioeconomic burden of HF, nationwide actions against HF are indispensable. To that end, relevant information on regional variations among HF patients are required.

Purpose

We aimed to explore the geographic variations in the characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized HF patients using a nationwide inpatient database.

Methods and results

Using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database which is a nationwide inpatient database in Japan, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of 447,818 hospitalized patients with HF (median age 81 years, 238,192 men) who were admitted between January 2010 and March 2018 in Japan. We divided the study population into seven geographical regions based on the location of the admitted hospital. Background characteristics were almost similar among all seven regions. The implementation rates of intubation, hemodialysis, inotropic agent, and advanced circulatory supports including intra-aortic balloon pumping and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation varied among the seven regions. There was a significant difference in the length of hospital stay and the in-hospital mortality among the seven regions. The multivariable logistic regression analysis including baseline clinical charasteristics and medication administered within two days after hospital admission fitted with a generalized estimation equation for in-hospital mortality showed that there was still a significant difference in the in-hospital mortality among the seven regions (Table).

Conclusion

The analysis of a nationwide inpatient database showed that geographical variations existed regarding the outcomes of patients hospitalized for HF. This suggests the necessity of further efforts to establish a standardized medical care system in this era of HF pandemic.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Grants from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (19AA2007 and H30-Policy-Designated-004) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (17H04141)

Age in months and birth order in infant nonfatal injuries: A retrospective cohort study

Objective

To examine the age in months at which infants visited outpatient clinics or emergency rooms for the first time for nonfatal injuries and to identify risk factors for the occurrence of these injuries.

Study design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

We used a health insurance claims database in Japan. Infants born between April 2012 and December 2014 were identified and followed until 12 months of age. We identified their first visit to outpatient clinics or emergency rooms because of nonfatal injuries (wounds/fractures, foreign bodies, and burns). Cox regression analysis was used to examine the association of nonfatal injuries with infants’ sex, birth order, and parental age.

Results

We identified 46,431 eligible infants. Of these, 7606 (16.4%) were brought to an outpatient clinic or emergency room for nonfatal injuries within 12 months of birth. Of the 7,606, 21.7% were aged ≤4 months and 44.7% ​≤ ​7 months. First-born infants were more likely to have wounds/fractures and burns.

Conclusion

One-fifth of first nonfatal infant injuries occurred within 4 months of age. Healthcare providers should provide early education about injury prevention, especially to caregivers of first-born infants.

•

Nonfatal injuries within first year of birth occurred in 16% of infants.

•

22% of first injuries occurred within 4 months of birth.

•

First-born infants were more likely to have wounds/fractures and burns.

Cardiovascular health metrics of 122,788 couples: analysis of a nationwide epidemiological database

Introduction

The American Heart Association suggests that cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics based on established risk factors and behaviors to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease. Couples share environmental and lifestyle habits, and therefore, there can be an intra-couple correlation of CVH metrics. However, the clinical data on the association of the CVH metrics among couples are limited.

Purpose

We aimed to explore the intra-couple relationship of the AHA-defined cardiovascular health metrics using a nationwide epidemiological database.

Methods

This study is a retrospective observational cross-sectional analysis using the health claims database of the Japan Medical Data Center between January 2005 and December 2016. We modified the American Heart Association CVH metrics and defined ideal CVH component as following: 1) nonsmoking, 2) body mass index &lt;25 kg/m2, 3) physical activity at goal, 4) untreated blood pressure &lt;120/80 mm Hg, 5) untreated fasting glucose &lt;100 mg/dL, and 6) untreated total cholesterol &lt;200 mg/dL.

Results

We analyzed 122,788 heterosexual couples enrolled in the Japan Medical Data Center database. The average age of participants was 50.2±9.5 years in men and 48.6±8.9 years in women. Good correlation was observed between couples in terms of the modified ideal CVH metrics (Figure 1A). The prevalence of meeting ≥5 ideal components in the female partners increased from 31% in the male partners meeting no ideal components to 55% in those meeting 6 ideal components. The concordance ratio is particularly higher in the component of smoking status, blood pressure, and fasting glucose level. A man who meets ≥5 ideal components probably had a woman partner who meets ≥5 ideal components (Odds ratio 1.6, 95% CI: 1.6–1.7, p&lt;0.001). The P value for the McNemar test was significant for all components, indicating that women apparently met ideal metrics for metrics in discordant Couples (Figure 1B).

Conclusion

Our investigation showed that there was a good intra-couple correlation of the ideal modified CVH metrics, suggesting the potential of couple-based assessment and management for improving CVH status.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Mortality and morbidity following postoperative use of short-term, low-dose quetiapine vs risperidone in patients with diabetes: Analysis using a national inpatient database

PURPOSE

Short-term, low-dose quetiapine is used to treat postoperative delirium and insomnia. Quetiapine is contraindicated for patients with diabetes in Japan because there have been several case reports of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in patients receiving long-term, high-dose quetiapine. However, because safety of short-term, low-dose quetiapine remains controversial, it is prescribed for patients with diabetes in real-world clinical practice. The present study aimed to compare in-hospital mortality and morbidity between short-term, low-dose quetiapine and risperidone in postoperative patients with diabetes.

METHODS

We used a national inpatient database in Japan to perform a retrospective cohort study. We identified hospitalized patients with diabetes who underwent scheduled elective surgery and received oral quetiapine 200 mg/d or less or oral risperidone 4 mg/d or less within 7 days of surgery between July 2010 and March 2018. We performed one-to-one propensity score-matched analyses to compare outcomes between patients with quetiapine and risperidone. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome was infectious complications (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, surgical site infection, and sepsis).

RESULTS

Propensity score matching created 665 pairs of patients who received quetiapine or risperidone. The primary outcome was observed in 19 (2.9%) of the quetiapine group and 11 (1.7%) of the risperidone group (relative risk, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-1.68; P = .14). The secondary outcome did not differ significantly between the groups.

CONCLUSION

In terms of mortality and infectious outcomes, safety of quetiapine and risperidone may be comparable.

Recent trends in vitreoretinal surgery: a nationwide database study in Japan, 2010-2017

PURPOSE

We clarified recent trends in vitreoretinal surgery in Japan, which is a rapidly aging country.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

We used the Diagnostic Procedure Combination database (2010-2017), a national inpatient database in Japan. Patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery were included. We measured the number of surgeries stratified by procedures, diagnoses, age categories, and combined cases of cataract surgery per fiscal year. We also considered changes in the Japanese population.

RESULTS

From 2010 to 2017, the total number of vitreoretinal surgeries per fiscal year increased by 7.8% (from 36,988 to 39,873). Among the diagnoses categories, epiretinal membrane (ERM) increased by 71%, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) by 50%, and macular hole (MH) by 12% throughout the observed period. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) decreased by 20%, RRD with scleral buckling (SB) by 40%, and vitreous hemorrhage (VH) by 10%. We observed remarkable increases in ERM among patients in their 60s and 70s, in MH in their 70s and 80s, and in RRD with PPV in their 50s and 60s. We observed remarkable decreases in RRD with SB in patients in their 20s-70s, in DR in their 60s, and in VH in their 60s and 70s. These findings did not change greatly when population changes were considered. All age groups from the 30 to 80s showed significant increases in the proportions of combined vitreoretinal and cataract surgery.

CONCLUSION

The total number of cases of vitreoretinal surgery per fiscal year increased throughout the period. The increases in ERM and RRD with PPV and the decreases in DR and RRD with SB were remarkable.

Recent Practice Patterns and Variations in Children Hospitalized for Asthma Exacerbation in Japan

BACKGROUND

High antibiotic prescribing rates for adults with an asthma exacerbation have been reported in developed countries, but few studies have assessed the variation of antibiotic and adjunctive treatment in the routine care of children.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the trends in health resource utilization for children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation, ascertained the variations of practices across hospitals and geographic location, and classified these different patterns at hospital levels.

METHODS

Using data on Japanese children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation with no indication of bacterial infection during 2010-2018, we conducted a retrospective observational study to assess the trends in initial treatment patterns and their variations. Mixed-effect generalized linear models were used to investigate the treatment trends. Hierarchical cluster analyses were performed to classify the treatment variations across hospitals.

RESULTS

Overall, 54,981 children were eligible for the study. Proportions of antibiotic use decreased from 47.2% in 2010 to 26.9% in 2018. Similarly, utilization of antitussives, antihistamines, and methylxanthine showed decreasing trends over the period, whereas the use of mucolytics and ambroxol increased. These treatment variations were more considerable in hospital levels than in 47 prefecture levels. Hierarchical cluster analyses classified these patterns into 6 groups, mostly based on mediator release inhibitor, ambroxol, and antitussives.

CONCLUSIONS

Wide variations in antibiotics and adjunctive treatments were observed across hospital levels. Our findings support the improvement in reducing inappropriate antibiotic use and highlight the need for comparative effectiveness research of the adjunctive treatments among children hospitalized for asthma.

Outcomes After Intensive Rehabilitation for Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of intensive rehabilitation on mortality and liberation from mechanical ventilation among patients with mechanical ventilation in intensive care units.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database.

SETTING

Patients discharged from acute care hospitals from April 2010 to March 2016.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients (N=46,438) aged 20 years and older who were admitted to intensive care units and who started rehabilitation within 3 days of starting mechanical ventilation.

INTERVENTION

Intensive rehabilitation in intensive care unit in the first 5 days after admission. Amount of rehabilitation was defined as the average number of units per day in the first 5 days after admission and was dichotomized as intensive (≥1.0 unit/d) or nonintensive (<1.0 unit/d) rehabilitation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome was liberation from mechanical ventilation.

RESULTS

We identified 29,982 eligible patients, including intensive (n=7745) and nonintensive (n=22,237) rehabilitation groups. In the propensity score-matched analysis, the intensive rehabilitation group had significantly lower in-hospital mortality (risk difference: -3.4%; 95% CI, -4.9% to -1.9%) and a higher proportion of liberation from mechanical ventilation (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.13) compared with the nonintensive rehabilitation group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients receiving a higher amount of rehabilitation in intensive care units were less likely to die and more likely to be liberated from mechanical ventilation.

Underlying Disorders, Clinical Phenotypes, and Treatment Diversity among Patients with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

INTRODUCTION

Clinical guidelines state that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) treatment should be based on three clinical phenotypes: the marked bleeding type (e.g. leukemia, trauma, obstetric diseases, or aortic diseases); organ failure type (sepsis or pancreatitis); and asymptomatic type of DIC (solid cancer). However, among the various underlying disorders of DIC, the clinical presentations of bleeding or organ failure have not to date been well documented. The present study aimed to evaluate whether underlying disorders of DIC would affect clinical outcome including death, organ failure, and bleeding.

METHODS

Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database, we identified all adult patients diagnosed with DIC during hospitalization from July 1, 2010, to March 31, 2018. We collected data on patient characteristics and underlying disorders of DIC including sepsis, solid cancer, leukemia, trauma, obstetric diseases, aortic diseases, pancreatitis, and miscellaneous diseases. We counted major bleeding events and calculated an organ failure score for patients during hospitalization.

RESULTS

We identified 337,132 patients with DIC. The major disorders underlying DIC were sepsis (42%) and solid cancer (31%). The average organ failure scores of patients with aortic diseases, sepsis, and trauma were 2.8, 2.2, and 2.2, respectively. The percentages with major bleeding events among patients with aortic diseases, trauma, obstetric diseases, and solid cancer were 24%, 15%, 10%, and 10%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the clinical presentations of bleeding and organ failure are not associated with the three existing clinical phenotypes of DIC or with the underlying disorders of DIC. Therefore, clinical presentation alone may not be sufficient for identifying the clinical phenotypes of DIC. Further research is necessary to develop new strategies for identifying the phenotypes of DIC and improving treatment strategies for individual patients.

Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in patients receiving biologic agents

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection is recommended in patients receiving biologics. However, evidence is weak regarding the efficacy of treatment regimens in this population, and the real-world practice pattern has not been elucidated.

METHODS

Using a large-scale health insurance claims database in Japan, we identified patients who started treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors or other biologics. Treatment with isoniazid within 12 months of starting a biologic was summarized to evaluate the duration of treatment for latent tuberculosis infection and the time between start of isoniazid and initiation of a biologic.

RESULTS

Among 2064 patients starting biologics, 10% received treatment for latent tuberculosis infection with isoniazid. Among the patients with biologics and isoniazid, isoniazid was started in the same month as initiating biologics or 1 month before in 82%. In addition to the recommended 6- and 9-month treatments, 20% of patients were receiving isoniazid at 12 months after starting treatment and 20% received a prescription for 350 days or more.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients starting biologics, treatment for latent tuberculosis infection was provided for different durations, including not only the recommended periods but also longer periods. Research on safety and effectiveness of the treatment in this population is necessary.

Spinal epidural hematoma and abscess after neuraxial anesthesia: a historical cohort study using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database

BACKGROUND

Spinal epidural hematoma and abscess are rare complications of neuraxial anesthesia but can cause severe neurologic deficits. The incidence of these complications vary widely in existing studies and the risk factors remain uncertain. We estimated the incidence of these complications and explored associations using a national inpatient database in Japan.

METHODS

Using Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination data on surgical inpatients who underwent neuraxial anesthesia from July 2010 to March 2017, we identified patients with spinal epidural hematoma and/or abscess. We investigated age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, antithrombotic therapy, type of surgery, admission, and hospital for association with these complications. The incidences of spinal epidural hematoma and abscess were estimated separately, and a nested case-control study was performed to examine factors associated with these complications.

RESULTS

We identified 139 patients with spinal epidural hematoma and/or abscess among 3,833,620 surgical patients undergoing neuraxial anesthesia. The incidences of spinal epidural hematoma and abscess were 27 (95% confidence interval [CI], 22 to 32) and 10 (7 to 13) per one million patients, respectively. Spinal anesthesia was associated with significantly fewer complications compared with epidural or combined spinal epidural anesthesia (odds ratio, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.32). Antiplatelet agent (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.06 to 3.91) and anticoagulants (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.95 to 2.85) were not significantly associated with these complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis identified the incidences of spinal epidural hematoma and/or abscess after neuraxial anesthesia. Additional large-scale studies are warranted to examine the incidences and factors associated with these complications.

Incidences and risk factors for post--dural puncture headache after neuraxial anaesthesia: A national inpatient database study in Japan

The reported incidence of post--dural puncture headache (PDPH) after neuraxial anaesthesia varies widely, depending on patient and procedural risk factors. Most previous studies have had small sample sizes and focused on obstetric patients. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of PDPH and factors associated with PDPH in non-obstetric and obstetric patients after neuraxial anaesthesia. We identified patients who underwent surgery with neuraxial anaesthesia between July 2010 and December 2017 from a Japanese nationwide inpatient administrative claims and discharge database. Factors associated with PDPH (body mass index (BMI), depression, spinal abnormalities, academic hospital and location of epidural anaesthesia) were examined using multivariable logistic analyses. The incidence of PDPH in non-obstetric patients after spinal anaesthesia, epidural anaesthesia and combined spinal epidural anaesthesia was 0.16%, 0.13% and 0.23% and in obstetric patients was 1.16%, 0.99% and 1.05%, respectively. Higher BMI was associated with decreased incidence of PDPH in non-obstetric patients receiving spinal anaesthesia and obstetric patients receiving epidural anaesthesia. In female patients receiving spinal anaesthesia, a history of depression was associated with increased incidence of PDPH. Being in an academic hospital was associated with decreased incidence of PDPH in male patients receiving spinal anaesthesia and female patients receiving spinal or epidural anaesthesia, but increased incidence of PDPH in male patients receiving epidural anaesthesia. Lumbar epidural anaesthesia was associated with increased incidence of PDPH in male patients, but decreased incidence of PDPH in obstetric patients compared with thoracic epidural anaesthesia. The present study identified several potential new risk factors for PDPH, and revealed that the incidence of PDPH in non-obstetric patients after neuraxial anaesthesia was lower than in obstetric patients.

Association of Isolated Diastolic Hypertension Based on the Cutoff Value in the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Blood Pressure Guidelines With Subsequent Cardiovascular Events in the General Population

Background The 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines lowered the threshold of blood pressure (BP) for hypertension to 130/80 mm Hg. However, the clinical significance of isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) according to the cutoff value of the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines was uncertain. Methods and Results We analyzed the claims database of Japan Medical Data Center (a nationwide epidemiological database). We excluded individuals who were aged <20 years, had systolic hypertension, were taking antihypertensive medication, or had prevalent cardiovascular disease, and studied 1 746 493 individuals (mean age, 42.9±10.7 years; 961 097 men [55.0%]). The average observational period was 1107±855 days. Stage 1 IDH, defined as diastolic BP 80 to 89 mm Hg, and stage 2 IDH, defined as diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg, were found in 230 513 (13.2%) and 16 159 (0.9%) individuals, respectively. Compared with individuals with normal diastolic BP, individuals with stage 1 and stage 2 IDH were older and more likely to be men. Prevalence of classic risk factors was higher in patients with IDH. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that stage 1 and stage 2 IDH were associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular events, defined as myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and stroke. Multivariable analysis showed that stage 1 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.17) and stage 2 (HR, 1.28) IDH were independently associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular events. Subgroup analyses showed that the association of IDH with cardiovascular events was seen irrespective of age and sex. Conclusions The analysis of a nationwide epidemiological database showed that IDH based on the cutoff value in the 2017 ACC/AHA BP guidelines was associated with an elevated risk of subsequent cardiovascular events.